Crosby ranks last in NFL in field goal accuracy

Nov. 3, 2012

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Packers place-kicker Mason Crosby ranks last in the NFL in field-goal accuracy. He has made 9 of 13 field goals for a 69% accuracy mark. Crosby has missed as many field goals this year as he did all of last season, when he made 24 of 28 and was 10th in accuracy at 86%.

Three of Crosby’s misses this year have been from beyond 50 yards. Then last week against Jacksonville, Crosby missed a chip-shot field goal attempt from 32 yards that doinked off the right upright.

“When I looked at the film it came off on a good line,” Crosby said this week of his 32-yard miss. “I don’t know if some of it might have been I got over it a little bit, it jumped to the right, it was kind of a weird ball flight. When I hit it I looked and it was on a good path. I don’t know if the wind caught it a little bit and took it to the right. But from that distance you just have to nail it through. You can’t really make excuses, you just got to hit it right through the uprights and go forward.”

Crosby said the best thing he can do is learn from the miss and move forward.

“I evaluated it mentally on Monday and moved on and just kind of do my normal thing this week and making sure I’m prepared for Sunday,” Crosby said.

When asked on Thursday if the miss is easy to put out of his mind, Crosby replied: “It has been until today, until we’re talking about it. For me, unfortunately, I guess fortunately, we have to have short memories. We evaluate that film on Monday and by Monday afternoon we’re on to Arizona. We’re on to the next game. For me I put it behind me and I’m working for this week.”

Special teams coach Shawn Slocum has been a staunch defender of Crosby throughout his career, especially when the kicker has hit some rough patches.

“I think continuity is a very important part of this business,” said Slocum. “I think our production is the No. 1 thing, so that’s the standard. He has to make field goals. I think it’s important that he and I work together. It’s important that I teach and demand. It’s important that he plays, and we will move forward, make or miss, we will continue to move forward. I’m going to be the same coach that I was if he makes a 60-yarder and if he misses one we’re going to move forward and let our process be what it is.”

Slocum said Crosby isn’t only evaluated on his field goal accuracy.

“I think the big picture, is that position helping this football team win?” said Slocum. “As long as we can answer that question we’re doing the right thing, and we will look at the big body (of work) as we go and again at the end of the year to see where it is. I feel good about where we are. I feel bad about a couple of the missed kicks, and we’re going to do what we need to do to correct that.”

When asked if Crosby’s problem with the miss on Sunday was more technical in nature or psychological, Slocum said: “Technician, all the way. Mason’s strong-minded. He missed the 32-yard field goal (Sunday). It was a lack of good technique. He’s got to clean that up.”

Slocum said it’s possible Crosby’s misses from longer than 50 yards earlier this season could have thrown off his mechanics a little.

“I think it could be,” said Slocum. “Keep in mind of how many balls he hits and how many times he’s done that procedure and it really gets down to, let’s keep it simple. It’s about having good balance, good technique, good weight distribution, good job going into the plant and all the things that he does time and time again. It’s very easy in that operation to get out of balance, and when you do, you have a chance to mishit the ball. And he’s done that a couple times and I think it’s important that ... He and I talked. Let’s not put more into it than there is. Let’s make sure that you go back and you detail your work and just let it go, and be smooth in the operation.”

When Slocum was asked if Crosby gets flustered by missed field goals, he replied: “Well, he expects to make every kick. And when he misses one, he’s the first one to be the toughest critic on himself and I’m sure it does. But at the same time, I think he does a good job of regaining his focus and moving forward.”